It’s that time again!

For one spectacular weekend this spring, Henry W. Coe State Park will again open the gate at Bell's Station on Highway 152 east of Gilroy. The Coe Backcountry Weekend, held in the little-traveled east side of the 87,000 acre park is scheduled for April 23-25, 2010. This event, sponsored by the Pine Ridge Association and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, allows visitors vehicle access to a remote and beautiful area. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians have a unique opportunity to see and enjoy an area isolated from the park's Morgan Hill entrance by long distances and rugged terrain.

The east side of the park has beautiful spring wildflowers, great fishing, and scenic trails, some with breathtaking panoramic views of the Diablo Range. The ridges and valleys are broader and easier to travel than the steep terrain in the western part of the park, and you can plan day trips to areas that normally require several days of strenuous backpacking, places like Mississippi Lake and the Orestimba Wilderness.

During the weekend, you can explore on your own or you can participate in group activities, such as guided hikes and horseback rides, wildflowers walks, and bird watching strolls. To help you make the most of your visit, we'll provide brochures, park maps, and all sorts of information at visitor booths near the Pacheco Creek crossing, County Line Road, and the Orestimba Corral.

The 2010 Application form is available here.

AGAIN THIS YEAR BY POPULAR REQUEST! Two night camping option: We are opening up this option to everyone, not just backpackers. If you are selected for this option, you will be allowed to enter between 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. (gates will close promptly) on Friday afternoon. Registration will be at the Bell’s Station entrance gate. Backpackers and car campers may park anywhere along the Kaiser-Aetna Road between Center Flats Road and County Line Road. Due to ecological concerns and past creek bed damage, only vehicles with high clearance (8” or higher) will be allowed in to the Orestimba Corral area. Standard passenger vehicles will be parked along County Line Road.

The gate will open for all others at 7:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. As always, everyone must be on their way out by 5 pm on Saturday or 5 pm on Sunday. Everyone camping overnight Saturday at the Orestimba Corral will be required to park on Kaiser Aetna Road unless their vehicle meets the 8" clearance requirement.

SHUTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE AGAIN IN 2010! Visitors can take advantage of the free shuttle service along Kaiser-Aetna Road to the Orestimba Corral. Shuttles will be able to help transport camping gear.

The fees for entering the park on this special weekend are:

• Day use (either Saturday or Sunday), $20 per vehicle;
• One night camping on Saturday, $40 per vehicle;
• Two nights camping on Friday and Saturday, $50 per vehicle

There is no limitation on the number of people in a vehicle. Carpooling is encouraged.

Because of parking limitations, we can accommodate a limited number of vehicles each day. You are cordially invited to apply for a reservation, but keep in mind that we've often had more applications than we can accept and have had to decline a fair number of reservation requests.

To be eligible for the drawing, your reservation application must be postmarked between February 1 and February 28.  In March, we'll draw applications until we reach our vehicle limit.  If your application is drawn, we'll send you a backcountry entrance ticket and more information about the event.  If your application is not drawn, we'll return your check with our apologies.  You should hear from us, one way or the other, before April 7th.